Caltrans worker crushing
veteran’s walker says a lot
Re: “Caltrans settles claims of unconstitutional homeless ‘sweeps’ for $5.5 million” (Mercurynews.com, Feb. 19):
Three thoughts on the Caltrans homeless sweeps settlement: That a person would destroy the walker of an individual who, presumably, could not walk without it, and other Caltrans employees did not stop him, says a lot about the lack of human compassion in the United States today.
Why was there not a procedure written after the 2006 lawsuit giving clear direction on how these cleanups should operate? If this procedure exists, has disciplinary actions been taken against those responsible for causing the physical and emotional harm to those people, and now for the loss of $5.5 million in taxpayers’ money?
Last but not least is the fact that if the settlement is approved the victims will get less than one-fourth of the settlement money, one-eighth of the settlement will go to the nonprofit Homeless Action Center, but almost two-thirds will go to the lawyers!
I thought lawyers were to assist victims, not get large windfalls because of victims’ suffering.
Max Steinke
San Jose
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